Social Workers for separated immigrant children and families in trauma
It would be extremely appropriate for Congress to immediately institute a program that assigns a psychiatric social worker actively to each separated child and to each family whose child is still in government custody.
Their psychological and organizational skills are imperative for helping these people keep from enduring further destructive trauma caused by the government’s failed family separation program. These social workers can also help coordinate further services, such as medical and legal.
The social workers should continue service after the families are rejoined and then for a period thereafter until their traumatic symptoms have resolved.
We know absolutely that the present ongoing forced separation is likely to cause major and potentially permanent mental damage to the thousands of children still involved. How can we allow this utter meanness as a country?
If the government refuses to put the families together NOW, the country can at least seek to help begin their healing process and carry it through.
Skip Robinson, PhD. In Psychology